Enlightenment Flashcards
Main Idea
a revolution in intellectual activity in the 1700s, changed Europeans’ view of the government and society
Relevance
freedoms and some forms of government in many countries today are a result of enlightenment thinking
Enlightenment supreme quality
reliance on reason
Use reason to solve problems→
better humanity and progress civilization
What did the enlightenment pave the way for?
French Revolution
How was the enlightenment named?
given the name because an influential group of people used rational thought to rid the world of ignorance
Literal definition enlightenment
“a time of illumination”
What concepts did the enlightenment rely on?
Used mathematics and science
Natural laws
body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct
Laws that govern human nature
What did the enlightenment believe on religion?
Religion, tradition, and superstition limited thoughtAccept knowledge based on observation, logic, and reason. NOT faith
Scientific and academic thoughts should be mostly or even completely secular
The philosophes
middle class and upper class thinkers, scientists, and artist who gather in French salons to discuss ideas on how to improve society
5 ideas of philosophes
Reason: rational thinking; being guided by the intellect
Nature: natural laws are the answer to all of the society’s ills
Happiness: well being on earth, not in the afterlife
Progress: move towards creating a perfect society
Liberty: freedom for all
Voltaire was against what? What did he write and what writing mechanism would he use?
against Christianity (and general organized religion and fanaticism) would target clergy, aristocracy, govt
Write treatise on toleration
used satire against his opponents
Baron de Montesquieu
proposes that you shouldn’t put all your hope or resources into one thing because if it doesn’t work out you’ll lose everything
Says the king should have restrictions (believes like Locke that they should have limits)
Three branches of govt-he called it separation of govt in his book the spirit of laws, warned of otherwise tyranny
Why did Voltaire hate Christianity?
Mid 18th c man who converted to Protestant from catholic in France and his father was
pissed and later got murdered and son was blamed and executed even though everyone knew son was innocent cause
France was Catholic and persecuted Protestant
Meaning of philosophes
lovers of wisdom
How did Hobbes describe life? humanity? Where?
In his book Leviathan, he described life as nasty, brutish, short and and humanity as depraved. discusses bystanders, Without government to keep order→ “war of every man against every man”
Satire
-literary work ridiculing its subject to make a comment or criticism about it
Although usually witty and funny, form of satire is to criticize to shame someone or something into reform. Usually has definite target, such as person, group, idea, attitude, institution or social practice.
Hobbes-absolute monarchy
Hobbes believed this would impose order and compel obedience. Because people are so bad they need something powerful to keep them under control, and a king or queen will
Needs to have absolute authority and absolute power to compel people to not kill or steal or hurt others
Hobbes social contract
An agreement by which they give up the state of nature for an organized society
Giving up their freedom for the monarch because otherwise it would be absolute chaos
In order to avoid chaos, we make the leviathan the monarch
If we break a law we are giving permission to the king to lock us up
John Locke-Natural rights? In what piece?
human beings are essentially good
People born free and equal with 3 neutral rights
Right to life, liberty, and property
Don’t need a monarch but we need a government with limited power, must receive the consent of the governed to be just
If government fails obligations or violates people’s rights the people can overthrow the government
Two treaties of govt=his book
Important similarity between scientists of scientific revolution and philosophers of
enlightenment
reason and understanding
How did Renaissance and reformation influence the enlightenment
with their increased awareness of their own intelligence
and power as individuals
Similarity between early christian beliefs and ideas of enlightenment
Belief in God
What old idea especially clashed with the Enlightenment idea?
Divine right of kings to rule
old v. new idea: monarchy
Old idea:
A monarch’s rule is justified by divine right
New idea:
A government’s power comes from the content of the government
What is recalled by Locke’s favoring constitutional monarchy?
English baron’s forcing acceptance of the Magna Carta on King John in 1215.
Magna Carta
charter (favored nobles, but did establish idea of rights and liberties that needed respect)
What famous historical document did Locke inspire?
Jefferson inspired by Locke→ declaration of independence
Voltaire quotes
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize”
“I may not agree with what to have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains”
Government freely formed by the people and buried by the “general will” of society
Direct democracy
What was Montesquieu’s ideas a basis for?
US constitution
Cesare Beccaria
laws existed to preserve social order, not to avenge crimes
Railed against common abuses of justice
Argued that people should receive speedy trials
anti-torture
What mistakenly inspired M?
British govt